MINNEAPOLIS – Bail was set at $1.2 million Monday for a former Minneapolis police officer charged with second-degree murder in George Floyd’s death. Bail for Derek Chauvin, 44, had been $500,000 when originally he was charged with third-degree murder. But Judge Jeannice M. Reding raised Chauvin’s bail to $1.2 million with the new second-degree murder charge. The higher bail had been requested by prosecutor Matthew Frank. Frank called Chauvin a flight risk, noting the strong reaction in the community to Floyd’sdeath. Chauvin’s attorney, Eric Nelson, did not contest the higher bail. Nor did Chauvin enter a plea, which comes later under Minnesota court procedure. If convicted, Chauvin faces a 40-year sentence.
Earlier:
Derek Chauvin, 44, appeared on closed-circuit television 26 miles away from the maximum-security Oak Parks Heights prison. He sat handcuffed at a table in an orange prison jumpsuit. He wore a COVID-19 mask.